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Step 7Etch-yer-sketch!
Now you'll use ferric chloride to etch away your copper and "develop" your boards
First, you should know that ferric chloride is really messy and can stain stuff (like floors!), so do this in an 'informal' setting. Ferric chloride is also acidic, so you'll want some nitrile gloves. I've had some on my skin, and it just irritates, rather than burning through my body, but it's not a nice sensation. Safety glasses might also be a good idea for the safety-conscious instructablee
So, put down a plastic pan that's larger than your copper board. You want a nice, heavy-duty plastic, on par with the lids of tupperware.
Put your copper board face down in the pan. Slowly pour ferric chloride over the board until the board is submerged.
Now, you sit back and wait. It took me about 30 minutes to fully etch my boards. Check in on your boards every so often to see how well the copper's etching.
When it's etched to your satisfaction (you should only see the black ink of your image, and the fiberglass board everywhere else), pull the board out and clean it off with water. Be sure to rinse off all the etchant. Remember that even a little bit of etchant can stain a porcelain sink, so do this somewhere 'informal' I sponged mine off first with paper towels, and that made things less messy.
Hang on to your etchant--you can do a bunch of boards before it'll stop working. When you do want to get rid of it, DON'T pour it down your drains.
MGchemicals.com offers this advice for disposing of Ferric Chloride:
1. Contact your local Hazardous Waste Disposal Company
2. The solution must not be put down the drain because of residual copper ions left in it. To make it safe for disposal, you can add sodium carbonate (washing soda) or sodium hydroxide to it to neutralize it, until the pH value goes up to between 7.0 and 8.0, testing it with indicator paper. Copper will be deposited as a sludge. Allow the sludge to settle, pour off the liquid, further dilute it with water and then it can be poured down the drain. Collect the sludge in plastic bags and dispose of it as required by your local waste authority.
If you're at a university, just contact your Environmental and Health Safety Office, and they'll be happy to collect it and dispose of it properly.
First, you should know that ferric chloride is really messy and can stain stuff (like floors!), so do this in an 'informal' setting. Ferric chloride is also acidic, so you'll want some nitrile gloves. I've had some on my skin, and it just irritates, rather than burning through my body, but it's not a nice sensation. Safety glasses might also be a good idea for the safety-conscious instructablee
So, put down a plastic pan that's larger than your copper board. You want a nice, heavy-duty plastic, on par with the lids of tupperware.
Put your copper board face down in the pan. Slowly pour ferric chloride over the board until the board is submerged.
Now, you sit back and wait. It took me about 30 minutes to fully etch my boards. Check in on your boards every so often to see how well the copper's etching.
When it's etched to your satisfaction (you should only see the black ink of your image, and the fiberglass board everywhere else), pull the board out and clean it off with water. Be sure to rinse off all the etchant. Remember that even a little bit of etchant can stain a porcelain sink, so do this somewhere 'informal' I sponged mine off first with paper towels, and that made things less messy.
Hang on to your etchant--you can do a bunch of boards before it'll stop working. When you do want to get rid of it, DON'T pour it down your drains.
MGchemicals.com offers this advice for disposing of Ferric Chloride:
1. Contact your local Hazardous Waste Disposal Company
2. The solution must not be put down the drain because of residual copper ions left in it. To make it safe for disposal, you can add sodium carbonate (washing soda) or sodium hydroxide to it to neutralize it, until the pH value goes up to between 7.0 and 8.0, testing it with indicator paper. Copper will be deposited as a sludge. Allow the sludge to settle, pour off the liquid, further dilute it with water and then it can be poured down the drain. Collect the sludge in plastic bags and dispose of it as required by your local waste authority.
If you're at a university, just contact your Environmental and Health Safety Office, and they'll be happy to collect it and dispose of it properly.
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